Solanco board reviews 2025–28 comprehensive plan; approves financial reports, tennis-court bid solicitation, Spain trip, dual-enrollment agreement and memorial‑

Solanco School District Board of School Directors members on Jan. 27 heard a detailed presentation of the district's draft 2025'28 comprehensive plan and approved a slate of routine fiscal and program motions, including authorizing a public bid process for tennis‑court replacement and approving a dual‑enrollment agreement with Harrisburg University of Science and Technology.

The district's comprehensive plan, presented by Dr. Dangler, groups committee recommendations into five priority areas: holistic student development and empowerment; academic excellence (with a particular focus on literacy); professional skills and workforce readiness; family and cultural engagement; and student safety, well‑being and social development. Dr. Dangler summarized the committee's three priority statements, saying, "If we work to foster a vision and culture of high expectations, success for all students, educators, and families, then we will see improved academic outcomes for students." The plan was described as a three‑year framework that will be posted for a 30‑day public review before being submitted to the state by March 31.

Board members and administrators emphasized career‑focused and community‑based learning in the plan, and noted efforts to expand experiential learning (youth courts, leadership councils, Renaissance programs) and to address early and broader definitions of literacy. The presentation also identified staff recruitment and retention as a priority; Dr. Dangler said the district wants to retain newly trained teachers and administrators to sustain instructional improvements.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes for Dec. 16, 2024; Jan. 6, 2025; and the Jan. 21 building committee meeting '1 motion carried by voice vote (all in favor). - General fund financial report for December 2024 approved. Treasurer's figures presented by Mrs. Tucker: total general‑fund receipts $6,530,560.42; disbursements $7,865,524.56; month net decrease $1,334,960.44; ending general‑fund balance $33,910,386.60. The board approved a $1,300,000 transfer from the general fund into the capital project fund identified as the final transfer of ESSER funds for HVAC work. - Capital project fund report approved; December ending balance $27,399,074.47. - Cafeteria fund report approved; December ending balance $1,756,641.72. - Athletic and student activity reports approved together; athletics net expenditure for the quarter was $259,673.19; student activity fund increased by $40,512.81 to an ending balance of $218,396.14. - Authorization to advertise and solicit bids for tennis‑court replacement (goal completion date before Aug. 1) '1 motion carried by voice vote. - Approval of district‑sponsored Spain trip proposal for 2026 (student funded; open to current Spanish III and AP Spanish students) '1 motion carried by voice vote. - Approval of dual‑enrollment agreement with Harrisburg University of Science and Technology to offer STEM courses to Solanco students (eligible beginning sophomore year; tuition reduced but paid by students) '1 board approved by voice vote. - Approval of the G. Daniel Bachman Memorial Scholarship agreement (annual $1,500 award; district has received $2,775 to date to seed the fund) '1 motion carried. - Personnel report approved, including two retirements noted by Dr. Bliss: Janet Breitmeier (service since 1982) and Bob Kerence (about 20 years of service); additional hires and extracurricular appointments listed in the personnel packet were approved. - Motion to excuse board member Mrs. Assel approved. - Motion to enter executive session to discuss student discipline and personnel (only business upon return: approve or disapprove student waiver as recommended) '1 motion carried by voice vote.

Financial and program details Mrs. Tucker highlighted the transfer of $1.3 million from the general fund to the capital project fund; she identified those funds as the final ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) grant funds intended for HVAC upgrades. The capital project fund report showed the $1,300,000 transfer and a December ending balance of $27.4 million. The board approved the month's reports by voice vote.

Facilities and timeline The board authorized the administration to solicit bids for tennis‑court replacement; the stated goal is to complete the work before Aug. 1. The Building and Grounds Committee scheduled a follow‑up meeting to show layouts for a new administration building and turf fields, with architects and engineers present to discuss cost differences and land‑development sequencing. The district noted land‑development permitting could take 10'12 months.

Trips, partnerships, and programs Dr. Long presented the Spain trip proposal for late 2026. The trip is student‑funded and targeted at students currently enrolled in Spanish III or AP Spanish; the district emphasized earlier planning so students have more months to raise funds. The board approved the trip proposal.

Dr. Dangler presented a proposed dual‑enrollment agreement with Harrisburg University of Science and Technology that would let Solanco students begin earning college credits in STEM courses as early as sophomore year. Courses could be delivered online or via a district teacher recognized as the teacher of record; students would pay tuition at a reduced rate. The board voted to approve the agreement.

Community, curriculum and other updates Dr. Dangler reported district enrollment held near 3,000; cyber‑charter enrollment decreased by three students month‑over‑month but remains up six since the start of the school year. The board discussed ongoing concerns about cyber‑charter costs that were the subject of a recent local news segment; administrators noted the district has received data via Right‑to‑Know requests but did not take additional action at the meeting.

IU 13 update and local partnerships Representatives reported to the board on work through Lancaster County Intermediate Unit (IU 13). The IU's annual audit by Brown, Plus & Co. found the IU's financial statements in accordance with accounting standards. The board also heard about a local business, Happiness Is Granola (owner Greta Fairbanks), that hires people who use American Sign Language; the IU 13 described the employer as paying participating students for work and providing a sign‑language environment that some IU 13 students find valuable.

What's next The comprehensive plan will be placed on the district website and in local public locations for a 30‑day public review; the board's agenda lists the plan for a formal vote at its next meeting. The administration and committee chairs also scheduled a Building Committee meeting the Monday before the next board meeting to review facility layouts and cost options.

Ending After routine business and reports the board moved into executive session to discuss student discipline and personnel matters; board members said the only action to be taken after the closed session would be to approve or deny a recommended student waiver.